5 Reasons to Visit Palm Springs

The New Capital of Cool

Posted By: Palm Springs Insider Tuesday, March 06, 2018

Palm Springs is welcoming visitors to its new dynamic downtown with stylish hotels, new fashionable restaurants, chic shops and boutiques, fun entertainment venues as well as welcoming public spaces for gathering, celebrating and relaxing. With warm days and balmy nights, this complements the ambiance that is positively seductive. With 360 days of sun-kissed weather and drop-dead gorgeous scenery, it’s no wonder Palm Springs is like no place else and a comeback as Hollywood’s playground with a growing nightlife, burgeoning art scene and edgy vibe.

#1 Endless Sunny Days

The sun in Palm Springs is one of the most popular attractions. That’s because the sun smiles on Palm Springs 360 days a year! When other cities are having rain, gloom, or frigid temps – you can count on Palm Springs’ warm sunny days for hiking, biking, and outdoor adventure.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the ultimate Palm Springs experience – being transported up to the top of the magnificent Mt. San Jacinto peak in 10-minutes by the world’s largest rotating tram cars.

In the Indian Canyons you’ll discover waterfalls, pools, spring-fed streams and the world’s largest fan palm oasis, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

#2 Languid Nights

By night, you can count on purple mountains and twinkling stars. Palm Spring’s nights are perfect for dining, imbibing, romancing and dancing with a variety of options for every mood.

The new rooftop deck at Kimpton’s The Rowan Hotel, the tallest structure in the city, is the perfect vantage point to experience the sun setting behind the mountain and to plan your evening of fun. Or if you want a throwback to old Palm Springs’ nightclubs,Copa Palm Springs is fashioned around an elevated performing stage and a stunning u-shaped bar lined with leather barstools, upholstered booths, and gilded cocktail tables. Sink into the sexy lounge, sip a cocktail, and enjoy the lineup of local and guest entertainers. Find more nightlife here.

Stroll downtown during Palm Springs VillageFest. Every Thursday night, the main street downtown is closed off for pedestrians only. You can safely walk down the entire length of this open-air fair, sampling small bites, listening to local musicians, checking out interesting hand-crafted products, and chowing down on some delicious eats from food vendors.

#3 A Downtown made for Strolling

Forget about the congestion and traffic of most tourist destinations – you’re in Palm Springs! Downtown Palm Springs is an inviting place for a relaxing stroll without the hectic traffic one encounters in most other city centers. It’s the perfect scale for strolling with multiple attractive public spaces to relax and numerous inviting outdoor patios for people watching. Our downtown has retained its casual vibe and is still a vibrant place to explore.

Discover the heart of downtown with a gourmet “Nicaragua Maracaturra Coffee Latte” at the beautiful and airy Starbucks Reserve. Turn left along Palm Canyon, to browse the new MAC Cosmetics boutique, the trendy clothes at H&M and the stylish, modern furniture and home décor at West Elm. West Elm’s collection has a mid-century vibe, making it perfect for Palm Springs mid-century mindset. Neighboring is Blaze Pizzaserving up healthful, artisanal pizzas in the blink of an eye, in a casual outdoor setting.

#4 Our style is spelled M-o-d-e-r-n

Known throughout the world as the mecca of modernism, Palm Springs enthusiastically embraces and celebrates the midcentury modern design aesthetic. The city got the reputation honestly by having the world’s largest concentration of midcentury modern architecture.

Palm Springs has claimed their distinctive style and brand which can be experienced not only in the architecture, but in everything from interior design, fashion, and unique shopping. In fact, Palm Springs loves its retro and vintage modernism vibe so much; it hosts an annual Modernism show & Sale that is part of Modernism Week – attracting over 100,000 from around the world each year.

Take an architectural tour, like the Palm Springs Mod Squad operated by Kurt Cyr. A two-hour chauffeured drive around Palm Springs will dazzle and amaze you with an in depth history of the desert modernism design, the architects that founded it and of course some of the Hollywood celebrities that called Palm Springs home. Find more here.

#5 Hollywood Pedigree

Since the 1930s, Palm Springs has been a celebrity playground for an A-list of sybarites and sanctuary seekers. Celebrities from Frank Sinatra to Leonardo DiCaprio and many others in between have been among the town’s famous residents who fell under the spell of Palm Springs’ tranquil beauty. Take a celebrity tour to learn a who’s who of famous names who have had hideaways in Palm Springs. Or stroll down Palm Canyon Drive to see the many bold-faced names who have stars on the famed Palm Springs Walk of Stars. Or do your own tour by picking a Palm Springs Star’s Homes self-guided tour map at the Palm Springs Visitor Center. It’s also a great way to see the neighborhoods and iconic architecture.

Palm Springs is less than a two hour flight from SFO to PSP with seasonal non-stop flights on Alaska, Virgin, American and United. Find the perfect place to stay, play, dine and shop .